HISTORY
Donghia has consistently reflected the dynamic and innovative approach to design that its founder, Angelo Donghia, was renowned
for. Though born and raised in America, Angelo Donghia surely drew upon his rich Italian heritage in developing his inimitable design
perspective. Angelo Donghia was a brilliant and sought-after interior designer in New York during the 1970’s and 1980’s. His client
roster included many prominent celebrities and personalities, including Liza Minelli, Donald and Ivana Trump, Diana Ross, Calvin
Klein, Ralph Lauren. Throughout his career, Angelo Donghia’s installations were featured in prominent interior and shelter publications
and his products graced such landmarks as Trump Tower, Four Seasons Hotels, Hotel Plaza Athenee, Paris, Metropolitan Opera Club,
New York and the Taj Palace, Dubai. Upon discovering a void in the market, Donghia’s entrepreneurial spirit drove him to enter the
home decoration market by creating and marketing innovative products for the trade. His first such venture was the establishment of a
textile firm - initially named Vice Versa and ultimately renamed Donghia Textiles. A few years later he established Donghia Furniture, a
collection of upholstered furniture sold exclusively to the trade. Due to its generous, overstuffed proportions the debut collection was
whimsically referred to as “fat furniture” by the press and was a great success. Subsequent collections evolved, and each collection
captured attention with styling that seamlessly married the best of contemporary and traditional design. After a period of successfully
selling textiles and furniture from his New York City showroom in the D & D Building, Donghia expanded his business to include
current, cutting-edge designs from other emerging designers and firms. This new focus gave birth to Donghia Showrooms - broadening
horizons and tapping into new markets by selling from his own showrooms across the nation. Angelo Donghia was a pioneer in the
area of licensing, becoming the first interior designer to venture into a realm that had previously been entered into solely by fashion
designers. The culmination of his diverse business ventures – from interior design to furniture design and licensing – was the elevation
of the Donghia name to “mega star” status in the world of home furnishings. Designing with an eye towards glamorous – but never
superfluous – Donghia’s unique style smoothly combined comfort and style, traditional and modern design. In recognition of his
outstanding contributions to the field of interior design, in 1985 Angelo Donghia was inducted into the Interior Design magazine Hall
of Fame. Mr. Donghia passed away that same year. From its inception to the present day, the brand Donghia has been consistently
recognized by the industry for excellence in the areas of both product design and advertising. Some of the prestigious awards
bestowed upon Donghia include: Interior Design Best of Year Award, 2007, Good Design Award for Lacquer Walls (Wallcovering)
from The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, 2004, Circle of Excellence Award for Product Design and
Development from IFDA/NY, 2002 and Elle Décor’s International Design Award for Textiles, 2002. To this day, Donghia, Inc.
maintains the design philosophy of its founder: elegant, contemporary and comfortable furnishings and accessories for both the
residential and contract markets. Angelo Donghia’s vision lives on, not only through his design company but through the Angelo
Donghia Foundation. Each year, the non-profit foundation provides scholarships to interior design students throughout the United States.
In May 2005, Donghia was purchased by Rubelli. The Venetian established family business is a leading designer and manufacturer
of high-end furnishings fabrics. While honoring the company’s rich history, Donghia moves confidently into the future. Buoyed by the
excellent distribution of the Rubelli Group, efficient American management and the contributions of Creative Director Mr. Charles
Chewning, Donghia is primed for further international development.